Folding auxiliary table



Dec. 22, 1964 HANSEN 3,162,149

FOLDING AUXILIARY TABLE Filed Oct. 8, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Dec. 22, 1964 J. G. HANSEN 3,162,149

FOLDING AUXILIARY TABLE Filed Oct. 8, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 5g INVENTOR444: MrMs United States Patent 3,152,149 FQLDING AUXHJIARY TABLE JamesG. Hansen, Deerpath Road, Batavia, Ill. Filed Get. 8, 1962, Ser. No.228,806 7 Uairns. (ill. NSF-7%) The invention relates to an auxiliarytable of the folding type and has reference in particular to such atable having two similar sections pivotally secured together and whereineach section provides a table of semi-circular area, triangular area orother geometrical shape.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of an auxiliaryfolding table which when completely erected will be round in area or twopivotally connected tables can be formed each semi-circular in area, andsaid auxiliary folding table when partially erected providing one tableof semi-circular area.

A more specific object is to provide a folding type of table which mayhave a top surface of round area or which may be square or othergeometrical shape and a table which when completely folded will providea handle for carrying the folding table and which will be flat on bothsides for convenient stacking.

A further object is to provide a folding table essentially consisting oftwo sections pivotally secured to each other and where in each sectionis in turn pivotally secured to a semi-circular table top along aflanged edge extending diametrically of the table top or if the top istriangular then the flanged edge will comprise the hypotenuse.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding type of tablewherein the supporting structure and table top includes two similarsections pivotally secured to each other and wherein each sectioncomprises a twolegged unit having a third leg pivoted thereto.

With these and various other objects in view, the

invention may consist of certain novel features of construction andoperation, as will be more fully described and particularly poined outin the specification, drawings and claims appended thereto.

In the drawings which illustrate an embodiment of the device and whereinlike reference characters are used to designate like parts FIGURE 1 is atop plan view of the folding table of the invention showing the samecompletely erected to provide a round table area;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view showing the folding table -of FIGURE 1 incomplete folded condition;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational view of the table as shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view showing the table as it appears in thecompletely folded condition of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along line 55of FIGURE 1;

view showing the table in 9-9 'ofFIGURE 1' showing the pivotal structurebetween a semi-circular top 1 section and the particular unit supportingthesa'me; and,

FIGURE 10 is a detail d sectional view showing a 4 receiving the hingestructure,

3,l62,l49 Patented Dec. 22, 1954 'ice to each other and wherein eachunit has a pivotal connection with a third leg member 14 and 15. Each ofthe units It and 12 include a horizontal bar 16 and a pair of legs 17and 18 for unit 10 and a horizontal bar 20 and the legs 21 and 22 forunit 12. The third leg member 14 consists of the horizontal bar 23 andleg 24 with the said bar 23 being pivotally connected at 25 to thehorizontal bar 16 of unit 16. In a similar manner the third leg member15 consists of a horizontal bar 26 and a leg 27, said bar 26 beingpivotally secured at 28 to the horizontal bar 20 of unit 12. The legs 17and 21 are pivotally connected to each other by hinges Sil, FIGURES 3and 4, and thus the units 10 and 12 can be spread apart or the units canbe folded into contact with each other and secured in such foldedrelation by removable screws, mechanical fasteners, or other devices tohold the units 1th and 12 secured to one another.

The units It) and 12 and the-thirdleg members 14 and 15 may be formed ofaluminum, steel or other suitable material and the material may be solidor tubular. As regards both the units and the third leg members, thesame are so shaped as to provide the upstand portions 32, with eachportion being integral with and forming an extension of its leg and thehorizontal bars being also integral with or being suitably welded ormechanically fastened to their respective structure. I

Referring to FIGURES 3 and 5 it will be clearly understood that the topsections of the table can be described as located within the confines ofthe portions 32. The said top sections 33 and 34 are shown assemi-circular but their specific shape is not limiting in any sense inthat square, triangular, hexagonal or other shapes may be employed. Eachtop section includes the surfacing material 35 which may consist of aplastic, leather, cloth or other material suitable for a table top andwhich is backed by the layer of wood, metal, plastic, or any .othersuitable reinforcing material, such as 36. Here,

also, for this table a plastic material or metal could be substitutedfor the wood. The peripheral edge of each semi-circular top section isprovided with a depending flange 37-and the same may be reinforced andstrength ened by reinforcing material of wood, metal, plastic or anyother suitable material at position 40 or the depending flange may benon-existent, or may be an integral part of or non-separable fromreinforcement 40.

The top section 33 is hinged to the horizontal bar 16 of the unit 19 andtop section 34 is hinged in a similar manner to the horizontal bar 20 ofthe unit 12. For the diametrical edge of each semi-circular top sectionis provided with an angle member having a horizontal flange 41 and 42for the sections 33 and 34 respectively, and a depending flange which isdesignated by the numerals 43 and 424, all as shown in FIGURE 5. Therivets 45 secure the horimodified form of pivotal connection for thetable sections;

The supporting structure of the present folding table is best shown inFIGURES 4- and 8 wherein it will be observed that the units It and 12are pivotally secured zontal flanges to their particular top section andeach depending flange has a hinge such as 46 and 47 suitably securedthereto with the axis of the hinge coinciding with the bottom edge ofthe depending flange. For the top section 33 the hinge 46 is in turnfixed to the horizontal bar 16 and for the top section 34 the hinge 47is secured to the horizontal bar 20. The diametrical edge of each topsection overhangs its depending flange to an extent such as to provide ashallow recess for accommodating the handles 50 and 51. The said handlesare thus completely enclosed when the top sections are horizontallydisposed. However, the handles are con venien'tly accessible. to theoperator when the table is in v a completely folded relation.

It is relatively easy to erect the folding table either to provide thefull circular table of FIGURE 1' or the two half sections as shown inFIGURE 7. The third leg members 14 and 15 are revolved into a rightangled ,units can be spread apart relation, with their respectivehorizontal bar either 16 or 20, and the spring clips 52 which dependfrom each top section will engage the horizontal bar 23 or 26 toyielding hold the third leg members in extended relation. In addition tothe full round table of FIGURE 1 and the two half sections of FIGURE 7,the auxiliary table of the invention can be partially erected to form asingle half section. In such case the third leg member either 14 or 15is released from its spring clip 52 and folded in against itsparticularhorizontal bar to which it is pivotally secured. This willdrop the semi-circular top section of the particular third leg memberand the table is thus only half erected and half folded. 'Whencompletedfolded the handles 50 and 51 are exposed to facilitate thecarrying of the folded table. It Will also be observed that the tablewhen completely folded is fiat on both sides to enable a stacking of thetables on top of each other for shipment or for the other purposes.

The hinges 46 and 47 can be replaced by a hinge structure such as shownin FIGURE 10. IA plate 54 is suitably secured to the undersurface ofeach table section by the rivets 55, and said plate provides a dependingflange 56. A bracket 57 providing portions at right angles to each otheris suitably fixed to each of the bars 16 and 20, and a pivot pin 58connects each flange 56 to its bracket 57. v r

The invention is not to be limited to or by details of construction ofthe particlar embodiment thereof illustrated by the drawings, as variousother forms of the device, Will be course be apparent to those skilledin the art Without departing from the spirit of the invention orthescope of the claims.

What is'claimed is:

1. In an auxiliary folding table, in combination, a pair of supportingunits each consisting of'a horizontal bar and a pair of legs connectedby said bar to form a unitary structure, means pivotally connecting oneleg of one unit to a leg of the other unit, whereby the units can bespread apart or folded against each other with respect to a verticalaxis parallel to the pivotally connected legs, a third leg memberpivoted to each unit, each third leg member including a'horizontal barhaving a leg at'one end, the other end of the horizontal bar of eachthird leg member being pivoted to the'horizontal bar: of a unitapproximately centrally of the unit, and a 'top for the table formed oftwo sections, one section being pivotally'secured to the horizontal barof one unit and the other top section being pivotally secured to thehorizontal bar of the other unit. I a

2. In an auxiliaryfolding table, in combination, a pair .of supportingunits each consisting of a horizontal bar and a pair of legsconnected'by the bar to form a rigid pivotally connecting one unitarystructure, hingemeans leg of one unit, to a leg of the other unit,whereby the with respect to a verticalaxis parallel to the pivotallyconnected legs, a third-leg inember pivoted to each unit, each third legmember including a horizontal bar having a leg atone end, the other endof the horizontal bar of each third leg member being pivotally connectedto the horizontalf bar. of a unit approximatelycentrallyof the unit andon the outer surface of for the table formed of two. sections, on eachtop "section extending .along ofthe section, hinge means pivotally c ofone section to the horizontal bar of one unit, and ;s imi larhinge;means pivotally connecting the flange of. the other section to thehorizontal V V 3.- An auxiliary folding table as defined by'claim 2," vwherein the hinge means pivotally ingfiange .of each section to the adepending flange a diametrical chord connectin g the dependhorizontalbarof its or closed against each other onnecting the flange bar of theother; unit.

its bar, and a top] respective unit is located along the bottom edge ofits flange to connect the flange to the top surface of its bar.

4. An auxiliary folding table as defined by claim 3, additionallyincluding a depending reinforcing flange extending around the peripheraledge of each top section.

5. An auxiliary folding table, including in combination, a pair ofsupporting units each consisting of a pair of spaced legs connectedadjacent their top ends by a horizontal bar, hinge means pivotallyjoining a leg of one to a leg of the other unit, whereby the supportingunits can be spread apart of folded against each other and with saidmovement taking place on a vertical axis parallel to the pivotallyconnected legs, a third leg member including a leg and a horizontal barextending laterally therefrom, hinge means pivotally connecting the freeend of the horizontal bar of each third leg member to the horizontal barof a unit, whereby each third leg member can be extend laterally fromits unit'or can be folded in contact with its unit, and a top for thetable, said top comprising two sections of approximately equal area, onesection being pivotally secured to the horizontal bar of one unit andthe other top section being pivotally secured tothe horizontal bar ofthe other unit.

6. An auxiliary folding table as defined by claim 5, additionallyincluding a fiange member forming part of each top section along adiametrical chord, and the said top sections being pivotally secured tothe horizontal bar of their unit by means of hinge members secured tothe lower edge of the flange member of its respective top section and tothe adjacent surface of its particular horizontal bar.

7. An auxiliary folding table, including in combination, a pair ofsupporting units each consisting of a pair of spaced legs integrallyconnected adjacent their top ends by a horizontal bar, hinge meanspivotally joining a leg of one unit to a leg of the other unit wherebythe supporting units can be spread apart or folded against each other,with said movement taking place on the vertical axis parallel to thepivotally connected legs, a third leg member including a leg and anintegrally connected horizontal bar extending laterally therefrom, hingemeans pivotally connecting the free end of the horizontal bar of a thirdleg member to the horizontal bar of a supporting unit, respectively,whereby each third leg member can extend laterally from its supportingunit or can be folded into contact With its unit, a top for the table,said top comprising two sections of approximately equal area, onesection being pivotally secured to the horizontal bar of one unit andthe other top section being pivotally secured to the horizontal bar ofthe other unit, a flange member forming part of each top section andbeing so cured'to the undersurface of each top section along adiametrical chord, hinge members pivotally securing each top section tothe horizontal bar of its respective unit, said hinge members beingsecured to the lower edge of the flange member of its respective topsection and to the adjacent surface of its particular horizontal bar,and a handle fixed to each horizontal bar approximately centrally of thebar and being disposed adjacent the outer surface of its particularflange member.

- References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,606,599 Santosuosso Aug. 12, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICECERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent Nofl 3,,l62 l49 December 22,, 1964James G Hansen f & It is hereb Certif. n? T Q g c fl 15 he abovenumbered patv y *3 d gt l sag Letters Patent should read as am,Yfiilrinei cor-rec 1m I Column T line 27 after "section" insert and besecured to the ing undersurface of each top section Signed and sealedthis 27th day of April 1965.,

(SEAL) Attest:

:azvzsr wi. SWIDER' EDWARD J. BRENNER .ttesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

1. IN AN AUXILIARY FOLDING TABLE, IN COMBINATION, A PAIR OF SUPPORTINGUNITS EACH CONSISTING OF A HORIZONTAL BAR AND A PAIR OF LEGS CONNECTEDBY SAID BAR TO FORM A UNITARY STRUCTURE, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING ONELEG OF ONE UNIT TO A LEG OF THE OTHER UNIT, WHEREBY THE UNITS CAN BESPREAD APART OR FOLDED AGAINST EACH OTHER WITH RESPECT TO A VERTICALAXIS PARALLEL TO THE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED LEGS, A THIRD LEG MEMBERPIVOTED TO EACH UNIT, EACH THIRD LEG MEMBER INCLUDING A HORIZONTAL BARHAVING A LEG AT ONE END, THE OTHER END OF THE HORIZONTAL BAR OF EACHTHIRD LEG MEMBER BEING PIVOTED TO THE HORIZONTAL BAR OF A UNITAPPROXIMATELY CENTRALLY OF THE UNIT, AND A TOP FOR THE TABLE FORMED OFTWO SECTIONS, ONE SECTION BEING PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THE HORIZONTAL BAROF ONE UNIT AND THE OTHER TOP SECTION BEING PIVOTALLY SECURED TO THEHORIZONTAL BAR OF THE OTHER UNIT.